AWN Headline News

STAR WARS EPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE, the digital effects driven actionfilm from Lucasfilm, grossed $25.4 million to bring its total to $296.7million while finishing second to newly released AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHOSHAGGED ME in the US weekend boxoffice race for the week ending Sunday,June 13. Universal's THE MUMMY, with digital effects by ILM, finished fifthwhile grossing $5.48 million to bring its total to $136.2 million; THEMATRIX, directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski, finished seventh, grossing

French production company Alphanim's RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT, a series,co-produced with Cinar, about a group of three friends who travel the worldseeking out paranormal phenomena, will begin airing on the Fox FamilyChannel on Wednesday, July 14, 1999. Alphanim, which was created in 1997 byChristian Davin, has announced a number of new television series that arein production or development.

In production:

SPACED OUT is a family sitcom created by P. Colin-Thibert and J.C. Islert,

Gerry Lewis, currently the co-head of international distribution andmarketing for DreamWorks, will retire from that post in September 1999 toplay a new role for the company, it was announced today by DreamWorksprincipal Jeffrey Katzenberg. Lewis has entered into a three-yearagreement, under which he will consult on the international marketingactivities of all films directed by Steven Spielberg (for DreamWorks andother studios), as well as any sequels to or other versions of projects

Continuing to build upon the rapid growth of its television division'sdevelopment slate, Film Roman Inc. has teamed-up with televisionwriter/producer Norman Lear to develop TIL THE FAT LADY SINGS, an animatedprime-time comedy series. According to Norman Lear, the series will take anirreverent look at infirmity and old age, but also celebrate life andliving. The show revolves around characters who gather at a seniorcitizen's recreation facility and who cope with the challenges of old age

Cartoon Network has announced that I AM WEASEL will premiere on June 10 at8 pm (ET/PT). This show is a spin-off from David Feiss' currently airingCOW AND CHICKEN series. Creator, writer, and director David Feiss' serieswill follow the exploits of the internationally famous I.M. Weasel and hisinsanely jealous arch-nemesis I.R. Baboon. Each half-hour show will consistof three 7 minute shorts. 52 shorts that were originally shown as part ofCOW AND CHICKEN will be joined by 27 new shorts have been created for the

This summer, Disneyland, in Anaheim, California, will celebrate the 30thanniversary of The Haunted Mansion, one of the theme park's most popularattractions. In preparation for the August 9 milestone, on June 26 and 27Disneyland will offer the opportunity to meet several of the attraction'screators, and to view or purchase limited-edition reproductions of HauntedMansion artwork created 30 years ago by Marc Davis and Collin Campbell. OnSaturday, June 26, guests who purchase the required special ticket can

Rick Ramirez, an executive with broad legal, financial and programdevelopment experience, has been named to the new position of vicepresident of the three-month-old Phil Roman Entertainment Company in StudioCity. As previously reported, Phil Roman recently departed the animationcompany he founded in 1984, Film Roman, to create his own animation firm.Ramirez' responsibilities will include all areas of business affairs,financing, and development both in the English and Spanish language markets

London-based Passion Pictures has created a :60 spot for Virgin Cola,"Roller Girl," which features a roller-blading 2D animated heroine designedand conceived by Jamie Hewlett, creator of TANK GIRL. The spot was directedby Robert Valley and Chris Hauge for agency Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe.The spot was first pencil drawn and hand painted before being computerpainted in Toonz, with traditionally painted and airbrushed backgroundsadded.

Nickelodeon's Worldwide Development Group, an international team ofNickelodeon creative and development executives, is launching Nickelodeon'sfirst global animation storyboard competition. The competition is open toanimators around the world. Six winners will be given the opportunity toproduce a one to three minute animated short based on their winningstoryboard and have it air on Nickelodeon channels around the world.Nickelodeon is looking for innovative animators with fresh,

Two films are about to make history as the first widely released featurefilms available to moviegoers via digital projection. One is STAR WARSEPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE; the other is the English romantic comedy, ANIDEAL HUSBAND. Beginning June 18, and continuing for four weeks, a digitalversion of Oliver Parker's AN IDEAL HUSBAND will play in New York City andLos Angeles. Check your papers for locations and times. For STAR WARSEPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, CineComm Digital Cinema and Texas